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Cubs lose to lowly Braves with bigger challenges ahead

To get into the spirit of the Kentucky Derby, let's use a little equine lexicon and say the Chicago Cubs are about to step up in class.

After doing what they needed to do for the vast majority of time against the nags of the National League, the Cubs now hit a stretch of turf that features three games at Pittsburgh against the Pirates and four at home against the Washington Nationals.

Both teams are solid contenders, so the Cubs will have an interesting week upcoming.

They fell off form somewhat Sunday in a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the lowly Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs came back from a 3-0 deficit with 2 in the eighth inning and then 1 in the ninth to tie it as Addison Russell hit an RBI single to right field against former Cubs pitcher Arodys Vizcaino.

But Cubs closer Hector Rondon gave up a couple of singles, leading to a sacrifice fly to Nick Markakis in the 10th.

"There's a lot of ways you can look at it," said Russell, who committed a fielding error in Atlanta's 2-run sixth. "We could have done things earlier in the ballgame to push us across that threshold, but we didn't. I like the way the team battled."

The Cubs have battled out to a 17-6 record and first place in the National League Central. They got a strong pitching performance Sunday from John Lackey, who went 8 innings and gave up 3 hits and 3 runs, 2 earned. The 8 innings marked the longest start by a Cubs pitcher not named Jake Arrieta this year.

Lackey is a battler, and he seemed to be looking forward to the battle ahead.

"Yeah, we've got to play everybody," he said. "We feel like we have a pretty good team."

Lackey also is a salt-of-the-earth type who doesn't mind spicing things up a bit, whether it's in the game or during the postgame interview. He did not give up his first hit Sunday until Kelly Johnson doubled leading off the fifth.

Johnson tried to break up the no-hitter with a bunt on the first pitch to him in the at-bat. Lackey's next pitch sailed over the head of catcher Tim Federowicz and to the backstop. When Lackey came to bat in the bottom of the inning, he had a conversation with Braves catcher Tyler Flowers.

"We had a little discussion," Lackey said. "But it's still baseball. I'm not a pitching machine. If you want me to throw it over the plate for you, we can go somewhere else. This is the big leagues."

That kind of approach is part of the reason the Cubs like Lackey. They should be in some good big-league contests this week against the Pirate and Nats.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon says to bring it on.

"I love that stuff personally," he said. "I really think it should bring out the best in you all the time, when you're playing really good teams. I anticipate we'll be ready, and we'll play good baseball, and that's all you could ask for.

"During the course of a major-league season when you get to that point where you're doing well and you're playing other teams that are doing well, it really makes for an interesting evening. And I love that. I really do. So I think our players feel the same way. It's something to look forward to. I think our fans are definitely into that moment, too. It's good. It's really good. Only three days on the road. Get right back home for a bit. It's set up pretty nicely actually."

bmiles@dailyherald.com

Chicago Cubs' Dexter Fowler hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Chicago. Associated Press

Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park

TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Wednesday; WPWR Tuesday

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jason Hammel (3-0) vs. Gerrit Cole (2-2) Monday at 6:05 p.m.; Jake Arrieta (5-0) vs. Jonathon Niese (3-0) Tuesday at 6:05 p.m.; Jon Lester (2-1) vs. Juan Nicasio (3-2) Wednesday at 11:35 a.m.

At a glance: This begins a tougher stretch for the Cubs, who face the Pirates and Nationals in the coming week. The Pirates are in second place in the NL Central, chasing the Cubs. Andrew McCutchen entered Sunday with a line of .226/.339/.441 with a team-leading 5 homers. Former Cubs prospect Josh Harrison led the team in batting (. 333). The Pirates went into Sunday leading the NL in batting average, hits and on-base percentage. Their team ERA of 4.10 was eighth, compared with the Cubs' 2.39 ERA putting them second. Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang, injured late last season against the Cubs, is on a minor-league rehab assignment and could be back soon. After this series, the Cubs open a 10-game homestand.

Next: Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field, Thursday-Sunday

- Bruce Miles

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